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Buddycall: The Underwater Signaling Device

Buddycall: The Underwater Signaling Device

Written by Nevin
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Published on January 12, 2010
two divers underwater near surface of water

How many times have you wanted to point out to your buddy an amazing sight and he’s not looking at you? Or if you’re running low on air and want to signal the end of dive, but your dive buddy isn’t paying attention? Many divers who need to catch their buddies attention will normally have tried several techniques from knocking on your tank, to underwater rattlers that often aren’t very effective. Well a New Zealand based company, Scientific Divers have come up with just the solution, a unique hands free and highly effective buddy signaling device.

Buddycall was created and designed by Wayne Smith, a Californian now residing in New Zealand while sailing from California to New Zealand in his yacht wanted a device that could effectively signal his wife on dives that would be small, hands free and convenient to use.

Buddycall is a battery operated diver-to-diver signaling device that enables you to immediately attract the attention of other divers by creating a pleasant but attention grabbing sound which is activated by pressing a large visible button on the device . The Buddycall may be worn around your wrist like a watch or attached to other gear like a BCD and can be heard underwater for up to 100 feet (30 meters) which offers a wide communication radius, above water the device can be heard for around 500 feet and is quite loud. The device is depth rated to 110 feet without any issue. A diver can use a short burst of sound to get a buddy’s attention or leave it in the ON position for hands-free use in an emergency. Divers can also create and use simple codes to pass along messages easily when diving or snorkeling.

Unlike an air-powered signaling device that alerts a diver when the air tanks are low, the Buddycall operates independently and can be used as an emergency device to be able to alert your diving companions immediately or simply to keep in touch with a group to point something out, or check on how much air is left in their tank. It can be used to signal low air, or even and equipment or scuba equipment failure emergency.

The Buddycall is especially useful in low visibility situations or on night dives where you can immediately locate your buddy by using auditory signals helping keep the group together. Dive Instructors in particular will love the Buddycall especially when teaching a certification class, the buddycall can signal students to pay attention to the instructors demos or summon divers that are straying from the group.

Tank bangers and rattle sticks occupy a divers hands, and also are clumsy and inconvienient, with divers often dropping or losing them. The buddycall has been programmed with a sound that is highly effective  underwater and doesn’t scare away the fish.

Lastly this device is relatively inexpensive for the range and functionality it offers, which allows divers to pick up a couple or several of the Buddycall signaling devices for themselves and their diving companions without breaking the bank.